Local North of Boston Businesses Team up to Support Suitcases 4 Kids

On Friday, April 13, I'll be partners with Strong Leather Company of Gloucester, , the Rotary Club of Gloucester and the in aiding the ongoing efforts of the non-profit Suitcases 4 Kids in fulfilling their mission to provide suitcases to all foster children. Crystal Motor Express Inc. will be delivering suitcases provided by the Strong Leather Company to Suitcases 4 Kids President Ron Nickerson at the North Andover Police Department at 1 p.m.

• When: 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, 2012

• Where: North Andover Police Department

1475 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA

Unfortunately, most foster children move several times while in the care of the state, and often have nothing better than a plastic trash bag to transport their clothes, toys and other personal belongings. While the prospect of having to move several times in one's life is not ideal, being able to comfortably move and protect one's possessions will help ease that transition.

In the Commonwealth alone, there are approximately 10,500 kids who are in foster care, and the sad reality is that most will have to move yet again. CJ, a child who has grown up in foster care provided by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and has moved countless times, wrote this of one of his experiences of moving to a new home, “… They had already thrown all my stuff into the cheap white kitchen trash bags. The pictures of my real family were just thrown in, and some of them got torn or bent."

To read CJ's story in its entirety or to read about ways that you can help, please visit http://suitcases4kids.org for more information. If you have a new or gently used suitcase that you'd like to donate please join us at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 13.